Carnivorous habits of two species of the genus Craspedochiton (Polyplacophora: Acanthochitonidae)

Abstract

Skeletal ossicles of brittle stars were found in gut contents of Craspedochiton sp. and C. pyramidalis, both of which have an anteriorly expanded girdle. The results of morphological comparisons of these species with Placiphorella, which is known to be a carnivore with active trapping behaviour, suggest that these two Craspedochiton species have a similar active carnivorous habit which evolved independently.